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South Sudanese authorities have blocked access to social media platforms in response to recent unrest, drawing condemnation from the Committee to Protect Journalists and concerns over press freedom and public access to information.
On January 22, South Sudan’s telecommunications regulator, the National Communication Authority, directed all internet service providers to “block access to all social media accounts” for a “minimum of 30 days” and a “maximum of 90 days,” according to a copy of the authority’s letter reviewed by CPJ as well as multiple media reports.
The directive aims to curb the spread of footage showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in neighbouring Sudan, which had sparked violent protests, including retaliatory killings of Sudanese nationals.
CPJ in a statement on Monday strongly criticised the move, describing it as a disproportionate response to the unrest.
“Blocking social media access is a blanket act of censorship and a disproportionate response to unrest that makes it difficult for journalists to do their jobs and robs the public of the diverse sources of news.
“South Sudanese authorities should immediately lift this social media suspension,” said CPJ Africa programme coordinator, Muthoki Mumo.
According to CPJ, journalists in South Sudan are struggling to navigate the ban, resorting to virtual private networks to continue their work.
However, they remain uncertain whether their audience can access their reports.
“We journalists are using VPNs to work. What we don’t know is whether our audience is receiving [our news],” said Mariak Bol, editor-in-chief of Hot in Juba, a news site that also publishes content on Facebook.
The social media ban comes amid broader measures to address unrest in the country, including a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the capital, Juba, on January 17.
The Authority’s director general, Napoleon Adok Gai, suggested in a press briefing on January 23 that the ban could be lifted within 72 hours, though no official confirmation has been made.
CPJ noted that efforts to reach South Sudan’s information minister and the National Communication Authority for further clarification were unsuccessful.
[Punch]
Betty Otimenyin on Monday assumed duty as the first female Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
Ms Otimenyin arrived at the headquarters of the Police Command in Edo, some minutes before 10 am, where she inspected the guard mounted in her honour.
The commissioner of police, who is the 49th to be deployed to the state, was received by senior officers of the command.
Otimenyin replaced Umoru Ozigi, who retired from the service on Saturday, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In a short interview with newsmen, the police chief, who also hailed from Edo, said she would do a lot to reduce the rate of crime in the South-South state.
“I will do a lot of things until the crime level comes down.
“We will also look at extortion (among the men and officers) of the command. The Inspector-General of Police frowns at it,” she said.
According to her, the command will be tougher on violence against women and children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Otimenyin enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant of Police (ASP) in 1992.
Before her redeployment to Edo, she had served in various commands including Force Intelligence Department (FID) as Commissioner of Police, Administration.
NAN
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform, has overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded free application on the Apple store in the United States.
DeepSeek is an AI search platform that leverages deep learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) to deliver highly relevant, intent-driven results.
The platform was launched in 2023 with two versions: DeepSeek-R1, a standard model, and DeepSeek-R1-Zero, which features unsupervised fine-tuning for superior reasoning capabilities.
According to Reuters, the AI application recently surpassed ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free application in the US.
The feat comes amid US restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China.
Despite the limitations, the app’s researchers claim to have trained their latest model on Nvidia’s H800 chips.
The training process reportedly costs about $6 million, a fraction of the usual expenses for developing advanced AI systems.
On January 20, DeepSeek shared its performance comparison with OpenAI on X.
DeepSeek’s rapid rise has sparked conversations about a reevaluation of the global AI power structure.
Some have lauded its affordability and robust performance, predicting it would challenge the status quo; while others view its open-source philosophy as a disruptive force with long-term implications.
[TheCable]
Brazil’s government has slammed the US government and President Donald Trump.
This comes after Trump deported dozens of immigrants from the United States to Brazil in hand cuffs.
The government accused the US government of “flagrant disregard” for their rights.
The government said on Saturday that it would demand an ‘explanation’ from the United States.
According to AFP, this is coming after President Trump’s order on border closure and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S. becomes effective with ongoing mass deportations.
Several planes have taken illegal immigrants to different countries like Guatemala and Brazil.
According to the country’s justice ministry, the authorities ordered US officials to “immediately remove the handcuffs” when the plane landed in Brazil’s northern city of Manaus on Saturday.
The statement added upon hearing of “the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens” through that justice minister Ricardo Lewandowski, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva mobilized aircraft to transport the Brazilians to their final destinations.
“Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport the Brazilians to their final destination, in order to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety,” the justice ministry said.
The foreign ministry stated that 88 Brazilians were aboard the aircraft, vowing to request “explanations from the US government about the degrading treatment of passengers” on the Friday night flight.
Several deported immigrants told the media that they weren’t given water during the flight and were brought with their hands and feet tied, AFP reported. The report also suggested that some of the passengers on the plane even fainted due to the heat.
While Donald Trump’s directive to crack down on illegal immigrants is becoming effective, the flight wasn’t linked to that but a 2017 bilateral agreement between both countries.
A Brazilian government source told AFP that the deportees who arrived in Manaus travelled “with their documents”, which shows that they agreed to return home.
Lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola has stated that he's not corrupt.
He made the claim while revealing that he rejected offer of an oil bloc and ministerial appointment twice.
Babalola said this on Sunday when he received Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other top traditional rulers who had come to appeal to him to withdraw the criminal defamation suit he filed against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
Afe Babalola who was rejecting allegation that he is corrupt as insinuated by Dele Farotimi said, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for."
But Afe Babalola added that he has no choice but to obey the appeal of the Ooni and other traditional rulers to obey appeal of the traditional rulers to withdraw the suit against Farotimi.
Babalola had dragged Farotimi to court over claims contained in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that the legal luminary corrupted the Judiciary
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give,” Afe Babalola said.
Speaking earlier, the Ooni of Ife commended Afe Babalola for his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the nation and the world at large.
He also urged him to heed the appeal to withdraw the suit he filed against Dele Farotimi.
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children,” Ooni said during his appeal to Babalola.
The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola SAN has agreed to withdraw the cases preferred against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi over alleged defamation.
Following Babalola’s petition to the police commissioner in Ekiti that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, the police arrested the activist lawyer and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti last year.
Farotimi stood trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, and as well for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.
The magistrate court adjourned the case till February 13 and the federal high court till January 29.
The elder statesman who in the early hours of Monday after a midnight meeting with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting.
Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
The nonagenarian, who spoke on the value of Yoruba traditional institution in the country added, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
The senior advocate said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
He listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”
The Ooni, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”
Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.
“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.
“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.”
The Ooni added, “We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our way, we have done the needful”.
[NigerianTribune]
Former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force of acting in an unprofessional manner.
Kwankwaso, accused the Kano Police Command of issuing a false security alert in an attempt to prevent the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order’s annual Maulud celebration from taking place.
According to him, the action not only jeopardized the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk.
Naija News recalls Kano Police had, on Friday, issued a terror alert on the eve of the planned gathering of the celebration scheduled for the Sani Abacha Stadium, saying terrorists planned to attack public gatherings in the state.
However, Kwankwaso, in a reaction on Monday via his account on the X platform, said the Police took a partisan decision by allowing itself to be used by the federal government in dabbling into the affairs of Kano State.
He said the alert issued by the Police turned out to be false and left a bad impression about the conduct, integrity, and activities of the Police.
While congratulating the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order, their Spiritual Leader, Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for successfully hosting the event, Kwankwaso went ahead to caution the federal government against interfering in the local activities of Kano State.
He said: “I wish to congratulate the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order on the successful completion of the annual maulud of Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, their Spiritual Leader, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
“I particularly felicitate with His Royal Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano and His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State for successfully organising the monumental event.
“However, I am concerned by a ‘terror alert’ from the Kano State Police Command on the eve of the event. This alert, not only jeopardised the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk by creating palpable fear among the people of Kano, those that came from other countries and parts of Nigeria.
“Such conduct by the police, which has already been marked as a willing partner for the Federal Government in its habitual dabbling into the affairs of Kano State further puts its integrity in doubt.
“Issuing a threat alert of this magnitude, which later turns out to be false sets a dangerous precedent. I am afraid that it will lead to people to be complacent in the event of a genuine threat in the future.
“Due to the international nature of the event, the conduct of the police leadership in Kano also leaves a bad impression of the Nigeria Police Force globally.
“I urge the Police Force in Kano to be professional and avoid being identified as deeply partisan in the affairs of Kano State and in other parts of the country.
“For the umpteenth time, I also urge the Federal Government to avoid dragging itself into unpleasant situations by further putting its hands in affairs that are strictly under the jurisdiction of the good people of Kano State and its Government
The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for a new Accountant General of the Federation and is also working to fill vacancies for permanent secretaries within the Federal Civil Service.
A memo dated 24 January 2025 from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Fatima Mahmoud, outlined the timeline for the process.
The memo was sent to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.
Naija News recalls that in December 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Babatunde Ogunjimi as acting Accountant General following the commencement of pre-retirement leave by the then-AGF, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein.
The appointment was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
However, Dr Madein’s tenure was subsequently extended until 7 March 2025 by a directive from the Head of Service, allowing her to return to her duties.
This decision led to the reassignment of Ogunjimi, who was redeployed to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Director of Accounts.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General, Bawa Mokwa, clarified that civil service regulations permit terminal leave to be optional.
He noted that Dr Madein’s reinstatement raised questions within the treasury department regarding its impact on Ogunjimi’s acting appointment.
Recruitment Process for Accountant General
The memo from the Head of Service detailed the accreditation process for candidates, set to begin on 28 January and end on 1 February 2025.
It also outlined the examination schedule for eligible candidates:
– Stage 1: Written Examination for eligible Candidates from North-West Zone and Oyo State on Monday, February 10, 2025.
– Stage 2: Written Examination for eligible Candidates/Directors (Accounts) in the Pool of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on February 11, 2025.
– Subsequent Stages: Computer-based tests scheduled for 12 and 13 February 2025.
– Final Stage: Oral interviews to take place on 14 February 2025
2025 Budget: Universities Forced To Pay ₦8 Million Each To Lawmakers In Alleged Bribery Scheme
AFOLABI
A report has claimed that some lawmakers in the National Assembly have set up a bribery scheme targeting federal universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.
According to the report by Premium Times, lawmakers are using intimidation and threats to force the heads of universities to pay ₦8 million each to approve their allocations in the 2025 budgets.
The extortion scheme allegedly involves senators and members of the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education, are demanding money from universities to approve their budgets.
Using an elaborate and complex system created by the lawmakers, 60 federal university vice chancellors are required to pay ₦8 million each (₦4 million each to Senate and House Committees).
The lawmakers are expecting ₦480 million from the extortion, and they have assigned two vice chancellors from the North Central and North West geopolitical zones to coordinate the payments to avoid detection.
It was gathered that the House Committee, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), set the extortion scheme in motion on 16 January during a meeting with some vice chancellors. At the meeting, the VCs were given clear and firm instructions about what was expected of them.
Initially scheduled for 10 a.m. that day, the meeting was delayed until 3 p.m. due to behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and some vice chancellors.
Speaking anonymously to the aforementioned publication, one of the vice chancellors said the lawmakers were explicit in their demands.
The source revealed that the lawmakers criticised the vice chancellors for not cooperating, unlike other institutions that comply without resistance.
At one point, the tone of the meeting became more threatening. Sources at the meeting said the committee members “cajoled, threatened, and even humiliated” some vice chancellors.
“They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball with them.
“Most other agencies are not grumbling like the VCs”, one attendee told the publication.
The majority of the vice chancellors reportedly grumbled and complained about the lawmakers’ demands, expressing frustration over the repeated extortion.
However, the more they complained, the more aggressive the lawmakers became, escalating their threats of probes
32-year-old murder suspect, Timileyin Ajayi, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Salome Adaidu.
Naija News reports that the suspect was arraigned on Monday at the High Court of Justice in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
He was charged with one count of culpable homicide punishable by death, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
However, upon his arraignment before Justice Simon Aboki, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
Meanwhile, Timileyin Ajayi has stated that he feels no regret in killing his alleged girlfriend, Salome.
Recall the suspect was apprehended for the alleged murder of a 24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving at Nicon Insurance in the Nation’s capital, Abuja.
Adaidu was murdered when she visited the suspect at his house in the Papalana axis at New Karshi in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The suspect was nabbed Sunday, January 12, while trying to dispose of the head of the deceased after killing her and dismembering her body parts when she visited him at his house.
Speaking to Channels Television, Ajayi stated that he did not plan to kill Adaidu, but that he carried out the act because they do not have time for each other
More...
Media personality, Toke Makinwa has reacted to the alleged spilt between Afrobeats veteran, Innocent idibia, popularly known as 2baba, and his wife of 12 years, Anne Idibia.
Recall that the singer had announced the separation in an Instagram post on Sunday.
He wrote, “Hello my beautiful people of all federation. Well this thing I have to say short but also long… I and Annie Macauley have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.
“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life, but because I love my people and I want them to know my innocence or offense. Stay bless my people.”
Reacting to 2baba’s post, Makinwa slammed the singer for taking to social media to announce his separation and imminent divorce from his wife.
While reacting to a video 2face posted confirming his separation, Toke wrote, “This is wrong on all levels and you should be ashamed of yourself for bringing this here. Bring it on, if you think she’s alone let me tell you here that you’ll have to f!ght all of us.”
She called on other women to stand up in defence for Annie.
A nationwide protest is currently brewing in Nigeria following the recent approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for telecommunication operators to increase tariff by 50%.
DAILY POST reports that following the mounting financial struggles birthed by the devaluation of the naira and increasing operational costs in Africa’s most populous nation, telecom operators like MTN and Airtel had demanded a 100% tariff increase.
However, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, on Monday, January 20 announced the approval of a 50% tariff increase.
By the time the Mobil Network Operators implement the approved tariff, Nigerians are expected to pay N16.5 per minute for calls from N11, the cost of SMS to N6 from N4, and the cost of 1 gigabit of data – N431.25.
There are, however, stiff oppositions from some stakeholders, who argued that the increment is coming at the wrong time, citing the economic hardship bedeviling the nation at the moment.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC had, while reacting to the proposed tariff increase, rallied Nigerians to reject “another harsh burden”, threatening to mobilize workers to boycott telecom services.
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC described the tariff scheduled to begin in February as outrageous, lamenting that it will worsen the harsh living conditions of workers and Nigerians.
Halt the tariff hike now – Yunusa Tanko tells FG
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Saturday, the National Coordinator, OBIDIENT Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko urged the Federal Government to halt the tariff increase, saying it is a “wrong timing, wrong action and wrong choice”.
According to him, a “50% tariff increase by the NCC at this time is only a final burial to the already struggling economy.
“All sectors of the economy need adequate communication to keep up with their game; the outturn will be spontaneous”.
Yunusa lamented that there “was an influx of 14 million Nigerians into poverty in one year, caused by uninformed government policies and poor economic decisions”, stressing that the country has “never experienced this height of surge since her independence”.
He appealed to the NCC and the Communications and Digital Economy Ministry to “thread cautiously and wisely, get the data right, opt for accurate information, do their analysis objectively, consider the post and aftermath of such actions, and always put the interest of the Nigerian people first.
“Have we thought about what would happen to the SMEs, SMSE, etc? Communication is the life wire of any nation.
“We are yet to recover from the inflation surge affecting basically all foodstuffs and household items, high cost of transportation and other internal disruptions caused by the fuel subsidy removal and other government policies.
“In a nutshell, a 50% tariff hike is a no no no for me; wrong timing; wrong action; wrong choice: and probably wrong outcome.
“The NCC should adopt an immediate reversal of the hike, substantially plan for it, and if there is any need for implementation after a period of time, not 50%. 15% will do”.
Nigerians plan nationwide protest
Irked by the development, DAILY POST gathered on Saturday that a cross section of Nigerians are currently planning to stage protests across the nation to compel the government agency to reverse its decision.
Popular Nigerian activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore told DAILY POST on Saturday that discussions on the nationwide protest are underway.
In a chat with our correspondent, Sowore, who described the tariff increase as unjust, said he recently met with the leadership of the NLC to harmonize plans for nationwide actions to reverse the decision.
“I met with the NLC leadership yesterday to discuss possible nationwide action against this unjust and backbreaking tarring increase.
“Yes, I will support any form of credible protest”, he said.
Another activist, Comrade Timothy Onyilo said the tariff increase would discourage students from research in higher institutions.
According to him, “the only language the government understands is protest and they are going to have it.
“Did they really consider students before coming up with this decision or they just feel like everybody is the same?
“We are already pained that students are suffering due to the high cost of living and you still want to add to their problems.
“Every student needs the internet for academic research. I am doing my MSc in the Abuja university here.
“We spend a lot of data doing research. Things are already hard and some people are still making it harder.
“Instead of them finding a way to improve the services, they are only interested in taking money from us.
“Sometimes, MTN, Glo and even Airtel will frustrate your life as if they are giving you service for free, yet nobody is talking about that”.
DAILY POST recalls that the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to reverse the decision or face nationwide protests.
The association in a statement on Wednesday noted that affordable internet access was crucial for bridging the educational gap in Nigeria and warned that the tariff hike would further exclude millions of students from accessing quality education, deepening the digital divide.
Meanwhile, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, had mandated the telecommunication industry to prioritize service improvement including network reliability, speed and accessibility, in the planned tariff adjustments.
In a recent statement by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondanje Ijagwu, FCCPC said although it acknowledged the economic pressures faced by telecom operators in the country, including increasing operational costs, “consumer interests remain paramount”
A resident of Delta State, Mrs. Gladys Ubogu Okeoghene, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5 Police Headquarters, Benin, seeking justice over alleged exploitation by policemen.
According to Mrs. Okeoghene, her family’s two cars, a GLK 350 and a C400, were stolen in 2022 after being handed over to a mechanic, Mr. Solomon David Orshieda, for repairs.
Orshieda allegedly sold the cars and fled to Kenya.
When Mrs. Okeoghene contacted the Nigeria Police Force (Area Command) in October 2024, she was allegedly directed to pay a total of N2,186,000 for the recovery of the vehicles.
The payment included costs for “office movement” and “tracking.”
However, she alleged that despite paying the requested amount, the police refused to release one of the recovered vehicles, the C400, and instead demanded additional payment.
Furthermore, Mrs. Okeoghene said she was not informed nor consulted when the police granted bail to the suspects, including Orshieda.
She lamented that the IPO handling the case had been intimidating and threatening her, and that her recovered vehicle remained seized by the police.
Mrs. Okeoghene is now seeking justice and calling for an investigation into the allegations.
She called the attention of the International Human Rights Commission, IHRC, and the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, Nigeria Office.
In a swift reaction, Delta State Police Command, led by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, while speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright denied the allegations.
SP Edafe explained that, “We arrested everybody involved and recovered one of the vehicles, only for the main suspect to appear with proof that he bought both vehicles from the woman’s son and the son even sent him the original customs papers.
“When she found out that her son sold the vehicles, she ran away with her son from the police station and started making wrong petitions up and down.”
Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has said that President Bola Tinubu needs to travel more.
The Minister said the President does not travel as much as he should, as he needs to interact with Presidents of other nations.
Some Nigerians are agitated that the President is traveling from country to country, wasting taxpayer money all in the name of luring investors to Nigeria.
As at May 2024, the president had spent about 96 days abroad from the day he was sworn in, visiting some countries more than once.
DAILY POST reports that Tinubu has visited France, United Kingdom, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Benin Republic, India, United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Ethiopia, Senegal, Qatar, The Netherlands.
Speaking to Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the Minister said that the President does not even travel enough.
“This administration is still new. He was sworn-in in 2023. In global terms he is still a new President. He needs to interact with his colleagues, fellow heads of state to be able to establish relationships and you can see the fruits of these trips. Look at the benefits.
“You travel once and you get $2bn of investment like he did in Brazil…in fact, we are not travelling enough. I should suggest that we should do more.
“Nigeria has the money. How much does travelling cost compared to the benefits. And how much does it cost when you’re comparing it to the things that the President has already addressed.
“How much were we wasting on fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and all those subsidies?” The Minister queried